Sonic Mania was the surprisingly fantastic old school tribute to classic 2D Sonic platformers of the 90s. It launched last fall to widespread critic and fan praise, which is unheard for a Sonic game, Sonic frequently being the butt of many a joke of the gaming industry.
Sega has announced an expanded version called Sonic Mania Plus, adding new playable characters, four player multiplayer, and an all-new physical edition. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch July 17. A new physical edition is also coming to retailers for consoles.
The biggest new feature are the two new playable characters: Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Only Sonic super-fans would recognize these obscure characters. Both are pulled from the 1993 arcade spin-off game SegaSonic the Hedgehog, which apparently never released outside Japan. Both new characters come with their own unique abilities. The pair bring the total playable roster up to five.
A new Encore Mode acts like New Game+, remixing existing levels to provide a more challenging experience.
The Competition and Time Attack modes will open up to allow for up to four players, including four player split-screen.
Sonic fans will be very interested in the new physical edition, which includes a 32-page art book and a reversible box cover designed to look like a classic Sega Genesis game.
If you previously purchased Sonic Mania, a DLC pack will be available to upgrade your existing copy into Sonic Mania Plus via digital stores. If you can resist the lure of that new physical edition that is.
Sonic Mania Plus is rated E for Everyone, and arrives July 17.
